LINCOLN, Neb. (NCBWA) – Forty-five relief pitchers are
included on the midseason watch list for the fourth annual National
Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award,
the association announced Thursday. The award is given to the top
relief pitcher in Division I college baseball.

The midseason watch list includes four players with double-figure
saves totals through April 15, paced by NCAA saves leader Tyler
Conn of Southern Miss. The senior lefty has 12 saves, a win and
31 strikeouts in 16 relief appearances and is one of three hurlers
on the watch list who have not yielded an earned run in 2008.

Not far behind Conn are 10-save relief specialists Joshua Fields
(1-1, 0.00) of Georgia , Colin Lynch (0-1, 2.76) of St. John’s ,
and Virginia ’s Michael Schwimer (1-1, 1.26). Conn , Fields and
Mississippi State ’s Aaron Weatherford have not allowed an earned
run through the first half of the season.

The 2008 midseason watch list features teams representing 19
athletic conferences as well as one independent team. The Atlantic
Coast Conference leads the way with six pitchers on the honor squad.

2008 NCBWA STOPPER OF THE YEAR MIDSEASON WATCH LIST

Pitcher

School

Cl.

Hometown

Tyson Bagley

Dallas Baptist

Sr.

Bakersfield, Calif.

Scott Bittle

Mississippi

Jr.

Texarkana, Texas

Nick Cassavechia

Baylor

Sr.

Dallas, Texas

Zach Calhoon

Texas San Antonio

So.

Spring, Texas

Tyler Conn (L)

Southern Miss

Jr.

Ocean Springs, Miss.

Chase Dempsay

Houston

Fr.

Baytown, Texas

Daniel Edwards

Kansas State

Sr.

Kingwood, Texas

Tim Erickson (L)

Lamar

Sr.

Sour Lake, Texas

Joshua Fields

Georgia

Sr.

Hull, Ga.

Nick Gaudi

Pepperdine

Sr.

Lancaster, Calif.

Jim Gilheeney (L)

N.C. State

So.

Johnston, R.I.

Thomas Girdwood

Elon

Fr.

Charlotte, N.C.

Matt Gorgen

California

Jr.

Clayton, Calif.

A.J. Griffin

San Diego

So.

El Cajon, Calif.

Carlos Gutierrez

Miami

Jr.

Miami, Fla.

Alex Hale

Richmond

Sr.

Omaha, Neb.

James Hayes

Rider

So.

Sunrise, Fla.

Kyle Heyne

Ball State

Sr.

Coldwater, Ohio

Chris Hicks

Georgia Tech

Jr.

Alpharetta, Ga.

Greg Johnson

South Alabama

Jr.

Omaha, Neb.

Josh Lindblom

Purdue

Jr.

West Lafayette, Ind.

Colin Lynch

St. John's

Jr.

Manchester, N.H.

Jake McCarter

Oklahoma

Sr.

Kerrville, Texas

J.D. Melton

Navy

So.

Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Jeremy Nowak

Stony Brook

So.

Cheektowaga, N.Y.

Drew O'Neil

Penn State

Jr.

Roswell, Ga.

Eric Pettis

UC Irvine

So.

West Hills, Calif.

Tommy Rafferty

Arizona State

Sr.

Lorena, Texas

Matt Reifsnider

The Citadel

So.

Ormand Beach, Fla.

Justin Robichaux

Louisiana-Lafayette

So.

Crowley, La.

Kevin Rhoderick

Oregon State

Fr.

Scottsdale, Ariz.

Shawn Sanford

South Florida

So.

Cinnaminson, N.J.

Michael Schwimer

Virginia

Sr.

Alexandria, Va.

Brian Shaw

Long Beach State

Sr.

Livermore, Calif.

Thain Simon

Santa Clara

Fr.

El Dorado Hills, Calif.

Travis Starling

Texas A&M

So.

Yoakum, Texas

Jason Stoffel

Arizona

So.

Agoura, Calif.

Josh Storm

Troy

Jr.

Cottondale, Fla.

Payton Tweddale (L)

Charleston Southern

Sr.

Charlotte, N.C.

Matt Vaughn

Clemson

Jr

Summerville, S.C.

Pat Venditte (L/R)

Creighton

Sr.

Omaha, Neb.

Derek Ward

Louisiana-Monroe

Jr.

Lewisville, Ark.

Aaron Weatherford

Mississippi State

Jr.

Crystal Springs, Miss.

Bryan Woodall

Auburn

Jr.

Phenix City, Ala.

Rob Wooten

North Carolina

Sr.

Fremont, N.C.

(L) indicates left-handed pitcher

The watch list was compiled from nominations submitted by sports
information contacts and conference media relations offices nationwide.
At the conclusion of regular season competition, the NCAA Division
I saves leader and four other relief pitching standouts will be
selected as the finalists for the award and announced May 28 prior
to the start of NCAA regional competition. The winner of the 2008
Stopper of the Year Award will be selected by the NCBWA’s All-America
Committee and announced Wednesday, June 4, two days before NCAA
Super Regional play begins.

The NCBWA, founded in 1962, presents the Dick Howser Trophy to
the nation's top player. It also selects a Division I All-America
Team, Division I and III Players of the Week, Division I District
Players of the Year and Division III Players of the Year.

For more information on the NCBWA Stopper of the Year, contact
Shamus McKnight at the University of Nebraska at 402-472-7772 (Ext.
210).